Monday, March 28, 2016

Jesus & Gardens in Paintings - The Garden at Gethsemane

1300s Barna da Siena The Agony in the GardenIf you are a reader of this blog, you know that I am interested in how gardens are depicted by artists & designers across the centuries. Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, most famous as the place where Jesus prayed & his disciples slept the night before Jesus' crucifixion. According to the New Testament it was a place that Jesus & his disciples customarily visited, which allowed Judas to find him on the night of his arrest. Gethsemane appears in Matthew (26:36) & Mark (14:32). The Gospel of John simply says Jesus entered a garden with his disciples.

1308 Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319) Agonia nel Getsemani Agony in GethsemaneMatt. 26:36-46 The Bible text - Jesus' Agony in the Garden36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray."37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done."43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

1350 Master of Hohenfurth Master of Vyšší Brod was an anonymous Bohemian painter active around The Agony in the GardenMark 14:32-42 The Bible text - Jesus' Agony in the Garden32 And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray."33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.34 And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch."35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him.41 And he came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

1380-90 The Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece, sometimes called the Master of Wittingau, The Agony in the Garden (from the altar of the Augustinian Canons' church of St Aegidius) Narodni Galeri, PragueLuke 22:39-46 The Bible text - Jesus' Agony in the Garden39 And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.40 And when he came to the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,42 "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,46 and he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

1450 Fra Angelico (Italian painter, 1387-1455) The Agony in the Garden, fresco. A wooden fence & some plantings sit behind the sleeping apostles in this garden.

1459 Andrea Mantegna (Italian painter, c 1431–1506) The Agony in the Garden. This garden is more stonework than earthwork.

1459 Giovanni Bellini (Italian Early Renaissance Painter 1430-1516) The Agony in the Garden. In this garden, a small wooden fence seems to separate sections of the garden.

1470 Andrea Mantegna (Italian painter, c 1431–1506) The Agony in the Garden. More stonework than garden in this painting.

1500 Sandro Botticelli (Italian artist, 1445-1510) Agony in the Garden. This garden is paled in & has raised beds.

1501 Ambrogio Bergognone (Italian artist, 1453-1523) The Agony In The Garden. Here the garden is surrounded by a tall wall with an arched entrance & flowers are at Jesus' feet.

1502 Attribited to Lo Spagna (fl 1504-1528) The Agony in the Garden. In this Garden, flowers are in bloom.

1505 Hans Holbein the Elder (c. 1460– 1524) The Agony in the Garden..Here, only the fence around the garden is visible.

1665 Adriaen van de Velde (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1636-1672) Agony in the Garden Not much of a garden is depicted here except for the gate and a stone fence.

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